Processes of Producing a Fermentation Product

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a process of process of producing a fermentation product, comprising: liquefying a starch-containing material to dextrins with an alpha-amylase in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide; saccharifying the dextrins to a sugar with a glucoamylase; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting organism.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to processes of producing a fermentation product from plant material using one or more fermenting organisms.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A vast number of commercial products that are difficult to produce synthetically are today produced by fermenting organisms. Such products include alcohols (e.g., butanol, ethanol, methanol, 1,3-propanediol); organic acids (e.g., acetic acid, citric acid, gluconate, gluconic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid); ketones (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid); gases (e.g., H₂ and CO₂), and more complex compounds, including, for example, antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and tetracycline); enzymes; vitamins (e.g., riboflavin, B₁₂, beta-carotene); and hormones. Fermentation is also commonly used in the consumable alcohol (e.g., beer and wine), dairy (e.g., in the production of yogurt and cheese), leather, and tobacco industries.

A vast number of processes of producing fermentation products, such as ethanol, by fermentation of sugars provided by degradation of starch-containing materials are known in the art.

However, production of fermentation products, such as ethanol, from such plant materials is still too costly. Therefore, there is a need for providing processes that can increase the yield of the fermentation product and thereby reduce the production costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved process for producing a fermentation product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a process of producing a fermentation product, comprising converting a starch-containing material to a dextrin with an alpha-amylase; saccharifying the dextrin to a sugar with a glucoamylase; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting organism in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide in a single step at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material, wherein the GH61 polypeptide is present in an amount which results in a greater amount of the fermentation product than the amount of the fermentation produced by the same process without the GH61 polypeptide.

The present invention also relates to a composition comprising (a) a GH61 polypeptide, (b) a glucoamylase and (c) an alpha-amylase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

Alpha-amylase (alpha-1,4-glucan-4-glucanohydrolases, EC 3.2.1.1) is an enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch and other linear and branched 1,4-glucosidic oligo- and polysaccharides.

Fragment: The term “fragment” means a polypeptide having one or more (several) amino acids deleted from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of a mature polypeptide; wherein the fragment has enzyme activity.

GH61 Polypeptide: The term “GH61 polypeptide” means a polypeptide falling into the glycoside hydrolase Family 61 according to Henrissat, 1991, A classification of glycosyl hydrolases based on amino-acid sequence similarities, Biochem. J. 280: 309-316, and Henrissat and Bairoch, 1996, Updating the sequence-based classification of glycosyl hydrolases, Biochem. J. 316: 695-696.

Glucoamylase (glucan 1,4-α-glucosidase, EC 3.2.1.3) is an enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of terminal (1-4) -linked α-D-glucose residues successively from non-reducing ends of the chains with release of β-D-glucose.

Isolated: The terms “isolated” and “purified” mean a polypeptide or polynucleotide that is removed from at least one component with which it is naturally associated. For example, a variant may be at least 1% pure, e.g., at least 5% pure, at least 10% pure, at least 20% pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80% pure, and at least 90% pure, as determined by SDS-PAGE and a polynucleotide may be at least 1% pure, e.g., at least 5% pure, at least 10% pure, at least 20% pure, at least 40% pure, at least 60% pure, at least 80% pure, at least 90% pure, and at least 95% pure, as determined by agarose electrophoresis.

Mature polypeptide: The term “mature polypeptide” means a polypeptide in its final form following translation and any post-translational modifications, such as N-terminal processing, C-terminal truncation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, etc.

Parent Enzyme: The term “parent” means an enzyme to which an alteration is made to produce a variant. The parent may be a naturally occurring (wild-type) polypeptide or a variant thereof.

Sequence Identity: The relatedness between two amino acid sequences or between two nucleotide sequences is described by the parameter “sequence identity”.

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of sequence identity between two amino acid sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, J. Mol. Biol. 48: 443-453) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, Trends Genet. 16: 276-277), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. The optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EBLOSUM62 (EMBOSS version of BLOSUM62) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Residues×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

For purposes of the present invention, the degree of sequence identity between two deoxyribonucleotide sequences is determined using the Needleman-Wunsch algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, 1970, supra) as implemented in the Needle program of the EMBOSS package (EMBOSS: The European Molecular Biology Open Software Suite, Rice et al., 2000, supra), preferably version 3.0.0 or later. The optional parameters used are gap open penalty of 10, gap extension penalty of 0.5, and the EDNAFULL (EMBOSS version of NCBI NUC4.4) substitution matrix. The output of Needle labeled “longest identity” (obtained using the -nobrief option) is used as the percent identity and is calculated as follows:

(Identical Deoxyribonucleotide×100)/(Length of Alignment−Total Number of Gaps in Alignment)

Variant: The term “variant” means a polypeptide comprising an alteration, i.e., a substitution, insertion, and/or deletion, at one or more (several) positions. A substitution means a replacement of an amino acid occupying a position with a different amino acid; a deletion means removal of an amino acid occupying a position; and an insertion means adding 1-5 amino acids adjacent to an amino acid occupying a position.

Wild-Type Enzyme: The term “wild-type” enzyme means an enzyme expressed by a naturally occurring microorganism, such as a bacterium, yeast, or filamentous fungus found in nature.

Processes for Producing Fermentation Products from Ungelatinized Starch-Containing Materials

The present invention relates to a process for producing a fermentation product from a starch-containing material without gelatinization (often referred to as “without cooking”) of the starch-containing material. In an embodiment, the process includes saccharifying the (e.g., milled) starch-containing material below the initial gelatinization temperature, preferably in the presence of an alpha-amylase and/or a carbohydrate-source generating enzyme(s) (saccharifying enzyme(s)) to produce sugars that can be fermented into the fermentation product by a fermenting organism, wherein the GH61 polypeptide is present in an amount which results in a greater amount of the fermentation product than the amount of the fermentation produced by the same process without the GH61 polypeptide.

Accordingly, this aspect of the invention relates to a process of producing a fermentation product, comprising converting a starch-containing material to a dextrin with an alpha-amylase; saccharifying the dextrin to a sugar with a glucoamylase; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting organism in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide in a single step at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material.

The term “initial gelatinization temperature” means the lowest temperature at which starch gelatinization commences. In general, starch heated in water begins to gelatinize between 50° C. and 75° C.; the exact temperature of gelatinization depends on the specific starch and can readily be determined by the skilled artisan. Thus, the initial gelatinization temperature may vary according to the plant species, to the particular variety of the plant species as well as with the growth conditions. The initial gelatinization temperature of a given starch-containing material may be determined as the temperature at which birefringence is lost in 5% of the starch granules using the method described by Gorinstein and Lii, 1992, Starch/Stärke 44(12): 461-466.

The process of the present invention may further comprise recovering the fermentation product, e.g., by distillation.

The starch-containing material may be a slurry, such as granular starch, having 10-55 wt. % dry solids (DS), preferably 25-45 wt. % dry solids, more preferably 30-40 wt. % dry solids of starch-containing material may be prepared. The slurry may include water and/or process waters, such as stillage (backset), scrubber water, evaporator condensate or distillate, side-stripper water from distillation, or process water from other fermentation product plants. Because the process is carried out below the initial gelatinization temperature and thus no significant viscosity increase takes place, high levels of stillage may be used if desired. In an embodiment the aqueous slurry contains from 1 to 70 vol. %, preferably 15-60 vol. %, especially from 30 to 50 vol. % water and/or process waters, such as stillage (backset), scrubber water, evaporator condensate or distillate, side-stripper water from distillation, or process water from other fermentation product plants, or combinations thereof, or the like.

The starch-containing material may be prepared by reducing the particle size, preferably by dry or wet milling, to 0.05-3.0 mm, preferably 0.1-0.5 mm. After being subjected to a process of the invention at least 85%, at least 86%, at least 87%, at least 88%, at least 89%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% of the starch in the starch-containing material is converted into a soluble starch hydrolyzate.

The process of this aspect of the invention is conducted at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature, e.g., a temperature in the range between 25-40° C., such as 25-40° C., 29-35° C., 30-34° C., such as around 32° C. One skilled in the art can easily determine suitable process conditions.

The process of the invention may be carried out at a pH from 3 and 7, e.g., 3.5 to 6 or pH 4 to 5.

In an embodiment, the process is carried out so that the sugar level, such as glucose level, is kept at a low level, such as below 6 wt. %, below 3 wt. %, below 2 wt. %, below 1 wt. %., below 0.5 wt. %, below 0.25% wt. %, or below 0.1 wt. %. Such low levels of sugar can be accomplished by simply employing adjusted quantities of enzyme and fermenting organism. A skilled person in the art can easily determine which doses/quantities of enzyme and fermenting organism to use. The employed quantities of enzyme and fermenting organism may also be selected to maintain low concentrations of maltose in the fermentation broth. For instance, the maltose level may be kept below 0.5 wt. %, such as below 0.2 wt. %.

Starch-Containing Materials

Any suitable starch-containing starting material may be used in a process of the present invention. The starting material is generally selected based on the desired fermentation product. Examples of starch-containing starting materials, suitable for use in the processes of the present invention, include barley, beans, cassava, cereals, corn, milo, peas, potatoes, rice, rye, sago, sorghum, sweet potatoes, tapioca, wheat, and whole grains, or any mixture thereof. The starch-containing material may also be a waxy or non-waxy type of corn and barley.

Fermentation Products

The term “fermentation product” means a product produced by a process including fermenting using a fermenting organism. Fermentation products include alcohols (e.g., ethanol, methanol, butanol); organic acids (e.g., citric acid, acetic acid, itaconic acid, lactic acid, succinic acid, gluconic acid); ketones (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid); gases (e.g., H₂ and CO₂); antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and tetracycline); enzymes; vitamins (e.g., riboflavin, B₁₂, beta-carotene); and hormones. In a preferred embodiment the fermentation product is ethanol, e.g., fuel ethanol; drinking ethanol, i.e., potable neutral spirits; or industrial ethanol or products used in the consumable alcohol industry (e.g., beer and wine), dairy industry (e.g., fermented dairy products), leather industry and tobacco industry. Preferred beer types comprise ales, stouts, porters, lagers, bitters, malt liquors, happoushu, high-alcohol beer, low-alcohol beer, low-calorie beer or light beer.

Fermenting Organisms

The term “fermenting organism” refers to any organism, including bacterial and fungal organisms, such as yeast and filamentous fungi, suitable for producing a desired fermentation product. Suitable fermenting organisms according to the invention are able to ferment, i.e., convert, fermentable sugars, such as arabinose, fructose, glucose, maltose, mannose, or xylose, directly or indirectly into the desired fermentation product.

Examples of fermenting organisms include fungal organisms such as yeast. Preferred yeast include strains of Saccharomyces, in particular Saccharomyces cerevisiae or Saccharomyces uvarum; strains of Pichia, in particular Pichia stipitis such as Pichia stipitis CBS 5773 or Pichia pastoris; strains of Candida, in particular Candida arabinofermentans, Candida boidinii, Candida diddensii, Candida shehatae, Candida sonorensis, Candida tropicalis, or Candida utilis. Other fermenting organisms include strains of Hansenula, in particular Hansenula anomala or Hansenula polymorpha; strains of Kluyveromyces, in particular Kluyveromyces fragilis or Kluyveromyces marxianus; and strains of Schizosaccharomyces, in particular Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Preferred bacterial fermenting organisms include strains of Escherichia, in particular Escherichia coli, strains of Zymomonas, in particular Zymomonas mobilis, strains of Zymobacter, in particular Zymobactor palmae, strains of Klebsiella in particular Klebsiella oxytoca, strains of Leuconostoc, in particular Leuconostoc mesenteroides, strains of Clostridium, in particular Clostridium butyricum, strains of Enterobacter, in particular Enterobacter aerogenes, and strains of Thermoanaerobacter, in particular Thermoanaerobacter BG1L1 (Appl. Microbiol. Biotech. 77: 61-86), Thermoanarobacter ethanolicus, Thermoanaerobacter mathranii, or Thermoanaerobacter thermosaccharolyticum. Strains of Lactobacillus are also envisioned as are strains of Corynebacterium glutamicum R, Bacillus thermoglucosidaisus, and Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius.

In an embodiment the fermenting organism is a C6 sugar fermenting organism, such as a strain of, e.g., Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In one embodiment the fermenting organism is added to the fermentation medium so that the viable fermenting organism, such as yeast, count per mL of fermentation medium is in the range from 10⁵ to 10¹², preferably from 10⁷ to 10¹⁰, especially about 5×10⁷.

Yeast is the preferred fermenting organism for ethanol fermentation. Preferred are strains of Saccharomyces, especially strains of the species Saccharomyces cerevisiae, preferably strains which are resistant towards high levels of ethanol, i.e., up to, e.g., 10, 12, 15 or 20 vol. % or more ethanol.

Commercially available yeast include LNF SA-1, LNF BG-1, LNF PE-2,and LNF CAT-1 (available from LNF Brazil), RED START™ and ETHANOL RED™ yeast (available from Fermentis/Lesaffre, USA), FALI (available from Fleischmann's Yeast, USA), SUPERSTART and THERMOSACC™ fresh yeast (available from Ethanol Technology, WI, USA), BIOFERM AFT and XR (available from NABC—North American Bioproducts Corporation, GA, USA), GERT STRAND (available from Gert Strand AB, Sweden), and FERMIOL (available from DSM Specialties).

According to the invention the fermenting organism capable of producing a desired fermentation product from fermentable sugars is preferably grown under precise conditions at a particular growth rate. When the fermenting organism is introduced into/added to the fermentation medium the inoculated fermenting organism pass through a number of stages. Initially growth does not occur. This period is referred to as the “lag phase” and may be considered a period of adaptation. During the next phase referred to as the “exponential phase” the growth rate gradually increases. After a period of maximum growth the rate ceases and the fermenting organism enters “stationary phase”. After a further period of time the fermenting organism enters the “death phase” where the number of viable cells declines.

Fermentation

The fermentation conditions are determined based on, e.g., the kind of plant material, the available fermentable sugars, the fermenting organism(s) and/or the desired fermentation product. One skilled in the art can easily determine suitable fermentation conditions. The fermentation may according to the invention be carried out at conventionally used conditions. Preferred fermentation processes are anaerobic processes.

For example, fermentations may be carried out at temperatures as high as 75° C., e.g., between 40-70° C., such as between 50-60° C. However, bacteria with a significantly lower temperature optimum down to around room temperature (around 20° C.) are also known. Examples of suitable fermenting organisms can be found in the “Fermenting Organisms” section above.

For ethanol production using yeast, the fermentation may go on for 24 to 96 hours, in particular for 35 to 60 hours. In an embodiment the fermentation is carried out at a temperature between 20 to 40° C., preferably 26 to 34° C., in particular around 32° C. In an embodiment the pH is from pH 3 to 6, preferably around pH 4 to 5.

Other fermentation products may be fermented at temperatures known to the skilled person in the art to be suitable for the fermenting organism in question.

Fermentation is typically carried out at a pH in the range between 3 and 7, preferably from pH 3.5 to 6, such as around pH 5. Fermentations are typically ongoing for 6-96 hours.

The processes of the invention may be performed as a batch or as a continuous process. Fermentations may be conducted in an ultrafiltration system wherein the retentate is held under recirculation in the presence of solids, water, and the fermenting organism, and wherein the permeate is the desired fermentation product containing liquid. Equally contemplated are processes conducted in continuous membrane reactors with ultrafiltration membranes and where the retentate is held under recirculation in presence of solids, water, and the fermenting organism(s) and where the permeate is the fermentation product containing liquid.

After fermentation the fermenting organism may be separated from the fermented slurry and recycled.

Fermentation Medium

The phrase “fermentation media” or “fermentation medium” refers to the environment in which fermentation is carried out and comprises the fermentation substrate, that is, the carbohydrate source that is metabolized by the fermenting organism(s).

The fermentation medium may comprise other nutrients and growth stimulator(s) for the fermenting organism(s). Nutrient and growth stimulators are widely used in the art of fermentation and include nitrogen sources, such as ammonia; vitamins and minerals, or combinations thereof.

Recovery

Subsequent to fermentation, the fermentation product may be separated from the fermentation medium. The fermentation medium may be distilled to extract the desired fermentation product or the desired fermentation product may be extracted from the fermentation medium by micro or membrane filtration techniques. Alternatively, the fermentation product may be recovered by stripping. Methods for recovery are well known in the art.

Enzymes

The enzyme(s) described below are to be used in an “effective amount” in the processes of the present invention.

GH61 Polypeptides

In the processes of the present invention, any GH61 polypeptide can be used.

In a first aspect, the GH61 polypeptide comprises the following motifs:

[ILMV]-P-X(4,5)-G-X-Y-[ILMV]-X-R-X-[EQ]-X(4)-[HNQ] and [FW]-[TF]-K-[AIV],

wherein X is any amino acid, X(4,5) is any four or five contiguous amino acids, and X(4) is any four contiguous amino acids.

The GH61 polypeptide comprising the above-noted motifs may further comprise:

H-X(1,2)-G-P-X(3)-[YW]-[AILMV],

[EQ]-X-Y-X(2)-C-X-[EHQN]-[FILV]-X-[ILV], or

H-X(1,2)-G-P-X(3)-[YW]-[AILMV] and [EQ]-X-Y-X(2)-C-X-[EHQN]-[FILV]-X-[ILV],

wherein X is any amino acid, X(1,2) is any one or two contiguous amino acids, X(3) is any three contiguous amino acids, and X(2) is any two contiguous amino acids.

In a preferred aspect, the GH61 polypeptide further comprises H-X(1,2)-G-P-X(3)-[YW]-[AILMV]. In another preferred aspect, the GH61 polypeptide further comprises [EQ]-X-Y-X(2)-C-X-[EHQN]-[FILV]-X-[ILV]. In another preferred aspect, the GH61 polypeptide further comprises H-X(1,2)-G-P-X(3)-[YW]-[AI LMV] and [EQ]-X-Y-X(2)-C-X-[EHQN]-[FILV]-X-[ILV].

In a second aspect, the GH61 polypeptide comprises the following motif:

[ILMV]-P-x(4,5)-G-x-Y-[ILMV]-x-R-x-[EQ]-x(3)-A-[H NQ],

wherein x is any amino acid, x(4,5) is any 4 or 5 contiguous amino acids, and x(3) is any 3 contiguous amino acids. In the above motif, the accepted IUPAC single letter amino acid abbreviation is employed.

In a third aspect, the GH61 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that has a degree of identity to the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 2 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 3 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 4 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 5 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 6 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 7 (Thermoascus aurantiacus), SEQ ID NO: 8 (Trichoderma reesei), SEQ ID NO: 9 (Myceliophthora thermophila), SEQ ID NO: 10 (Myceliophthora thermophila), SEQ ID NO: 11 (Myceliophthora thermophila), SEQ ID NO: 12 (Myceliophthora thermophila), SEQ ID NO: 13 (Myceliophthora thermophila), SEQ ID NO: 14 (Thermoascus aurantiacus), SEQ ID NO: 15 (Aspergillus fumigatus), SEQ ID NO: 16 (Penicillium pinophilum), SEQ ID NO: 17 (Thermoascus sp.), SEQ ID NO: 18 (Penicillium sp.), SEQ ID NO: 19 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 20 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 21 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 22 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 23 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 24 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 25 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 26 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 27 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 28 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 29 (Thielavia terrestris), SEQ ID NO: 30 (Thermoascus crustaceus), SEQ ID NO: 31 (Thermoascus crustaceus), or SEQ ID NO: 32 (Thermoascus crustaceus) of at least 60%, e.g., at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, or at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99%, or at least 100%.

In a sixth aspect, the GH61 polypeptide is an artificial variant comprising a substitution, deletion, and/or insertion of one or more (or several) amino acids of the mature polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 31, or SEQ ID NO: 32; or a homologous sequence thereof.

Preferably, amino acid changes are of a minor nature, that is conservative amino acid substitutions or insertions that do not significantly affect the folding and/or activity of the protein; small deletions, typically of one to about 30 amino acids; small amino- or carboxyl-terminal extensions, such as an amino-terminal methionine residue; a small linker peptide of up to about 20-25 residues; or a small extension that facilitates purification by changing net charge or another function, such as a poly-histidine tract, an antigenic epitope or a binding domain.

Examples of conservative substitutions are within the group of basic amino acids (arginine, lysine and histidine), acidic amino acids (glutamic acid and aspartic acid), polar amino acids (glutamine and asparagine), hydrophobic amino acids (leucine, isoleucine and valine), aromatic amino acids (phenylalanine, tryptophan and tyrosine), and small amino acids (glycine, alanine, serine, threonine and methionine). Amino acid substitutions that do not generally alter specific activity are known in the art and are described, for example, by H. Neurath and R. L. Hill, 1979, In, The Proteins, Academic Press, New York. The most commonly occurring exchanges are Ala/Ser, Val/Ile, Asp/Glu, Thr/Ser, Ala/Gly, Ala/Thr, Ser/Asn, Ala/Val, Ser/Gly, Tyr/Phe, Ala/Pro, Lys/Arg, Asp/Asn, Leu/Ile, Leu/Val, Ala/Glu, and Asp/Gly.

Alternatively, the amino acid changes are of such a nature that the physico-chemical properties of the polypeptides are altered. For example, amino acid changes may improve the thermal stability of the polypeptide, alter the substrate specificity, change the pH optimum, and the like.

Essential amino acids in a parent polypeptide can be identified according to procedures known in the art, such as site-directed mutagenesis or alanine-scanning mutagenesis (Cunningham and Wells, 1989, Science 244: 1081-1085). In the latter technique, single alanine mutations are introduced at every residue in the molecule, and the resultant mutant molecules are tested for cellulolytic enhancing activity to identify amino acid residues that are critical to the activity of the molecule. See also, Hilton et al., 1996, J. Biol. Chem. 271: 4699-4708. The active site of the enzyme or other biological interaction can also be determined by physical analysis of structure, as determined by such techniques as nuclear magnetic resonance, crystallography, electron diffraction, or photoaffinity labeling, in conjunction with mutation of putative contact site amino acids. See, for example, de Vos et al., 1992, Science 255: 306-312; Smith et al., 1992, J. Mol. Biol. 224: 899-904; Wlodaver et al., 1992, FEBS Lett. 309: 59-64. The identities of essential amino acids can also be inferred from analysis of identities with polypeptides that are related to the parent polypeptide.

Single or multiple amino acid substitutions, deletions, and/or insertions can be made and tested using known methods of mutagenesis, recombination, and/or shuffling, followed by a relevant screening procedure, such as those disclosed by Reidhaar-Olson and Sauer, 1988, Science 241: 53-57; Bowie and Sauer, 1989, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 2152-2156; WO 95/17413; or WO 95/22625. Other methods that can be used include error-prone PCR, phage display (e.g., Lowman et al., 1991, Biochemistry 30: 10832-10837; U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409; WO 92/06204), and region-directed mutagenesis (Derbyshire et al., 1986, Gene 46: 145; Ner et al., 1988, DNA 7: 127).

Mutagenesis/shuffling methods can be combined with high-throughput, automated screening methods to detect activity of cloned, mutagenized polypeptides expressed by host cells (Ness et al., 1999, Nature Biotechnology 17: 893-896). Mutagenized DNA molecules that encode active polypeptides can be recovered from the host cells and rapidly sequenced using standard methods in the art. These methods allow the rapid determination of the importance of individual amino acid residues in a polypeptide.

The total number of amino acid substitutions, deletions and/or insertions of the mature GH61 polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, SEQ ID NO: 4, SEQ ID NO: 5, SEQ ID NO: 6, SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 9, SEQ ID NO: 10, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 12, SEQ ID NO: 13, SEQ ID NO: 14, SEQ ID NO: 15, SEQ ID NO: 16, SEQ ID NO: 17, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 21, SEQ ID NO: 22, SEQ ID NO: 23, SEQ ID NO: 24, SEQ ID NO: 25, SEQ ID NO: 26, SEQ ID NO: 27, SEQ ID NO: 28, SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 30, SEQ ID NO: 31, or SEQ ID NO: 32 is not more than 4, e.g., 1, 2, 3, or 4.

In one aspect, the GH61 polypeptide is used in the presence of a soluble activating divalent metal cation described in WO 2008/151043, e.g., manganese sulfate.

In one aspect, the GH61 polypeptide is used in the presence of a dioxy compound, a bicylic compound, a heterocyclic compound, a nitrogen-containing compound, or a sulfur-containing compound.

The dioxy compound may include any suitable compound containing two or more oxygen atoms. In some aspects, the dioxy compounds contain a substituted aryl moiety as described herein. The dioxy compounds may comprise one or more (several) hydroxyl and/or hydroxyl derivatives, but also include substituted aryl moieties lacking hydroxyl and hydroxyl derivatives. Non-limiting examples of dioxy compounds include pyrocatechol or catechol; caffeic acid; 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid; 4-tert-butyl-5-methoxy-1,2-benzenediol; pyrogallol; gallic acid; methyl-3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate; 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone; 2,6-dimethoxyphenol; sinapinic acid; 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid; 4-chloro-1,2-benzenediol; 4-nitro-1,2-benzenediol; tannic acid; ethyl gallate; methyl glycolate; dihydroxyfumaric acid; 2-butyne-1,4-diol; (croconic acid; 1,3-propanediol; tartaric acid; 2,4-pentanediol; 3-ethyoxy-1,2-propanediol; 2,4,4′-trihydroxybenzophenone; cis-2-butene-1,4-diol; 3,4-dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione; dihydroxyacetone; acrolein acetal; methyl-4-hydroxybenzoate; 4-hydroxybenzoic acid; and methyl-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoate; or a salt or solvate thereof.

The bicyclic compound may include any suitable substituted fused ring system as described herein. The compounds may comprise one or more (several) additional rings, and are not limited to a specific number of rings unless otherwise stated. In one aspect, the bicyclic compound is a flavonoid. In another aspect, the bicyclic compound is an optionally subsituted isoflavonoid. In another aspect, the bicyclic compound is an optionally substituted flavylium ion, such as an optionally substituted anthocyanidin or optionally substituted anthocyanin, or derivative thereof. Non-limiting examples of bicyclic compounds include epicatechin; quercetin; myricetin; taxifolin; kaempferol; morin; acacetin; naringenin; isorhamnetin; apigenin; cyanidin; cyanin; kuromanin; (keracyanin; or a salt or solvate thereof.

The heterocyclic compound may be any suitable compound, such as an optionally substituted aromatic or non-aromatic ring comprising a heteroatom, as described herein. In one aspect, the heterocyclic is a compound comprising an optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl moiety or an optionally substituted heteroaryl moiety. In another aspect, the optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl moiety or optionally substituted heteroaryl moiety is an optionally substituted 5-membered heterocycloalkyl or an optionally substituted 5-membered heteroaryl moiety. In another aspect, the optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl or optionally substituted heteroaryl moiety is an optionally substituted moiety selected from pyrazolyl, furanyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl, oxadiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, pyridazinyl, thiazolyl, triazolyl, thienyl, dihydrothieno-pyrazolyl, thianaphthenyl, carbazolyl, benzimidazolyl, benzothienyl, benzofuranyl, indolyl, quinolinyl, benzotriazolyl, benzothiazolyl, benzooxazolyl, benzimidazolyl, isoquinolinyl, isoindolyl, acridinyl, benzoisazolyl, dimethylhydantoin, pyrazinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, pyrrolinyl, pyrrolidinyl, morpholinyl, indolyl, diazepinyl, azepinyl, thiepinyl, piperidinyl, and oxepinyl. In another aspect, the optionally substituted heterocycloalkyl moiety or optionally substituted heteroaryl moiety is an optionally substituted furanyl. Non-limiting examples of heterocyclic compounds include (1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-3,4-dihydroxyfuran-2(5H)-one; 4-hydroxy-5-methyl-3-furanone; 5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone; [1,2-dihydroxyethyl]furan-2,3,4(5H)-trione; α-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone; ribonic γ-lactone; aldohexuronicaldohexuronic acid γ-lactone; gluconic acid δ-lactone; 4-hydroxycoumarin; dihydrobenzofuran; 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural; furoin; 2(5H)-furanone; 5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one; and 5,6-dihydro-4-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one; or a salt or solvate thereof.

The nitrogen-containing compound may be any suitable compound with one or more nitrogen atoms. In one aspect, the nitrogen-containing compound comprises an amine, imine, hydroxylamine, or nitroxide moiety. Non-limiting examples of nitrogen-containing compounds include acetone oxime; violuric acid; pyridine-2-aldoxime; 2-aminophenol; 1,2-benzenediamine; 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy; 5,6,7,8-tetrahydrobiopterin; 6,7-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropterine; and maleamic acid; or a salt or solvate thereof.

The quinone compound may be any suitable compound comprising a quinone moiety as described herein. Non-limiting examples of quinone compounds include 1,4-benzoquinone; 1,4-naphthoquinone; 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone or coenzyme Q₀; 2,3,5,6-tetramethyl-1,4-benzoquinone or duroquinone; 1,4-dihydroxyanthraquinone; 3-hydroxy-1-methyl-5,6-indolinedione or adrenochrome; 4-tert-butyl-5-methoxy-1,2-benzoquinone; pyrroloquinoline quinone; or a salt or solvate thereof.

The sulfur-containing compound may be any suitable compound comprising one or more sulfur atoms. In one aspect, the sulfur-containing comprises a moiety selected from thionyl, thioether, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, sulfamide, sulfonamide, sulfonic acid, and sulfonic ester. Non-limiting examples of sulfur-containing compounds include ethanethiol; 2-propanethiol; 2-propene-1-thiol; 2-mercaptoethanesulfonic acid; benzenethiol; benzene-1,2-dithiol; cysteine; methionine; glutathione; cystine; or a salt or solvate thereof.

In an embodiment, the GH61 polypeptide is present in the amount of 2-1000 micrograms/g dry solids (DS), e.g., 5-100, 10-40, or 20-40 micrograms/g DS.

Alpha-Amylases

According to the invention any alpha-amylase may be used, such as of fungal, bacterial or plant origin. In a preferred embodiment the alpha-amylase is an acid alpha-amylase, e.g., acid fungal or acid bacterial alpha-amylase. The term “acid alpha-amylase” means an alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) which added in an effective amount has activity optimum at a pH in the range of 3 to 7, preferably from 3.5 to 6, or more preferably from 4-5.

Bacterial Alpha-Amylases

An alpha-amylase for use in the present invention may be a bacterial alpha-amylase, e.g., derived from Bacillus. In a preferred embodiment the Bacillus alpha-amylase is derived from a strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus stearothermophilus, or Bacillus subtilis, but may also be derived from other Bacillus sp.

Specific examples of alpha-amylases include the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 5 in WO 99/19467, the Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 4 in WO 99/19467, and the Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase of SEQ ID NO: 3 in WO 99/19467 (all sequences are hereby incorporated by reference). In an embodiment the alpha-amylase may be an enzyme having a degree of identity of at least 60%, e.g., at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% or at least 99% to any of the sequences shown in SEQ ID NO: 3, 4 or 5, respectively, in WO 99/19467.

The Bacillus alpha-amylase may also be a variant and/or hybrid, especially one described in any of WO 96/23873, WO 96/23874, WO 97/41213, WO 99/19467, WO 00/60059, and WO 02/10355 (all documents are hereby incorporated by reference). Specific alpha-amylase variants are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,093,562, 6,187,576, and 6,297,038 (hereby incorporated by reference) and include Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase (BSG alpha-amylase) variants having a deletion of one or two amino acids at positions R179 to G182, preferably a double deletion disclosed in WO 96/23873—see, e.g., page 20, lines 1-10 (hereby incorporated by reference), preferably corresponding to delta (181-182) compared to the amino acid sequence of Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylase set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 disclosed in WO 99/19467 or the deletion of amino acids R179 and G180 using SEQ ID NO: 3 in WO 99/19467 for numbering (which reference is hereby incorporated by reference). Even more preferred are Bacillus alpha-amylases, especially Bacillus stearothermophilus alpha-amylases, which have a double deletion corresponding to delta (181-182) and further comprise a N193F substitution (also denoted I181*+G182*+N193F) compared to the wild-type BSG alpha-amylase amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 3 disclosed in WO 99/19467.

Bacterial Hybrid Alpha-Amylases

The alpha-amylase may be a hybrid alpha-amylase, e.g., an alpha-amylase comprising 445 C-terminal amino acid residues of the Bacillus licheniformis alpha-amylase (shown in SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO 99/19467) and the 37 N-terminal amino acid residues of the alpha-amylase derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (shown in SEQ ID NO: 5 of WO 99/19467), with one or more, especially all, of the following substitutions:

G48A+T49I+G107A+H156Y+A181T+N190F+I201F+A209V+Q264S

(using the Bacillus licheniformis numbering in SEQ ID NO: 4 of WO 99/19467). Also preferred are variants having one or more of the following mutations (or corresponding mutations in other Bacillus alpha-amylases): H154Y, A181T, N190F, A209V and Q264S and/or the deletion of two residues between positions 176 and 179, preferably the deletion of E178 and G179 (using SEQ ID NO: 5 of WO 99/19467 for position numbering).

In an embodiment, the bacterial alpha-amylase is dosed in an amount of 0.0005-5 KNU per g DS (dry solids), preferably 0.001-1 KNU per g DS, such as around 0.050 KNU per g DS.

Fungal Alpha-Amylases

Fungal alpha-amylases include alpha-amylases derived from a strain of Aspergillus, such as, Aspergillus kawachii, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae alpha-amylases.

A preferred acidic fungal alpha-amylase is an alpha-amylase which exhibits a high identity, i.e., at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or even 100% identity to the mature part of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 10 in WO 96/23874.

Another preferred acid alpha-amylase is derived from a strain of Aspergillus niger. In a preferred embodiment the acid fungal alpha-amylase is an Aspergillus niger alpha-amylase disclosed as “AMYA_ASPNG” in the Swiss-prot/TeEMBL database under the primary accession no. P56271 and described in WO 89/01969 (Example 3—incorporated by reference). A commercially available acid fungal alpha-amylase derived from Aspergillus niger is SP288 (available from Novozymes A/S, Denmark).

Other wild-type alpha-amylases include those derived from a strain of Meripilus and Rhizomucor, preferably a strain of Meripilus giganteus or Rhizomucor pusillus (WO 2004/055178 which is incorporated herein by reference).

In a preferred embodiment the alpha-amylase is derived from Aspergillus kawachii (Kaneko et al., 1996, J. Ferment. Bioeng. 81: 292-298, “Molecular-cloning and determination of the nucleotide-sequence of a gene encoding an acid-stable alpha-amylase from Aspergillus kawachii”; and further as EMBL: #AB008370).

The fungal alpha-amylase may also be a wild-type enzyme comprising a starch-binding domain (SBD) and an alpha-amylase catalytic domain, or a variant thereof.

Fungal Hybrid Alpha-Amylases

In a preferred embodiment the fungal acid alpha-amylase is a hybrid alpha-amylase. Examples of fungal hybrid alpha-amylases include the ones disclosed in WO 2005/003311, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0054071 (Novozymes), and WO 2006/069290 (Novozymes), which are hereby incorporated by reference. A hybrid alpha-amylase may comprise an alpha-amylase catalytic domain (CD) and a carbohydrate-binding domain/module (CBM), such as a starch binding domain (SBD), and optionally a linker.

Examples of hybrid alpha-amylases include those disclosed in Tables 1 to 5 of the examples in WO 2006/069290 including the variant with the catalytic domain JA118 and Athelia rolfsii SBD (SEQ ID NO: 100 in WO 2006/069290), Rhizomucor pusillus alpha-amylase with Athelia rolfsii AMG linker and SBD (SEQ ID NO: 101 in WO 2006/069290), Rhizomucor pusillus alpha-amylase with Aspergillus niger glucoamylase linker and SBD (which is disclosed in Table 5 as a combination of amino acid sequences SEQ ID NO: 20, SEQ ID NO: 72 and SEQ ID NO: 96 in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/316,535) or as V039 in Table 5 in WO 2006/069290, and Meripilus giganteus alpha-amylase with Athelia rolfsii glucoamylase linker and SBD (SEQ ID NO: 102 in WO 2006/069290). Other hybrid alpha-amylases are listed in Tables 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Example 4 in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/316,535 and WO 2006/069290 (which are hereby incorporated by reference).

Other examples of hybrid alpha-amylases include those disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0054071, including those disclosed in Table 3 on page 15, such as Aspergillus niger alpha-amylase with Aspergillus kawachii linker and starch binding domain.

Other alpha-amylases exhibit a high degree of sequence identity to any of above mentioned alpha-amylases, i.e., at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or even 100% identity to the mature enzyme sequences disclosed above.

An acid alpha-amylase may according to the invention be added in an amount of 0.001 to 10 AFAU/g DS, e.g., 0.01 to 5 AFAU/g DS, especially 0.3 to 2 AFAU/g DS, or 0.001 to 1 FAU-F/g DS, preferably 0.01 to 1 FAU-F/g DS.

Commercial Alpha-Amylase Products

Preferred commercial compositions comprising alpha-amylase include MYCOLASE™ (DSM), BAN™, TERMAMYL™ SC, FUNGAMYL™, LIQUOZYME™ X, LIQUOZYME™ SC and SAN™ SUPER, SAN™ EXTRA L (Novozymes A/S) and CLARASE™ L-40,000, DEX-LOT™, SPEZYME™ FRED, SPEZYME™ AA, SPEZYME™ DELTA AA, GC358, GC980, and SPEZYME™ RSL (Danisco A/S), and the acid fungal alpha-amylase sold under the trade name SP288 (available from Novozymes A/S, Denmark).

Carbohydrate-Source Generating Enzymes (Saccharifying Enzymes)

The term “carbohydrate-source generating enzyme” includes glucoamylase (a glucose generator), beta-amylase and maltogenic amylase (both maltose generators) and also alpha-glucosidase, isoamylase and pullulanase. A carbohydrate-source generating enzyme is capable of producing a carbohydrate that can be used as an energy-source by the fermenting organism(s) in question, for instance, when used in a process of the invention for producing a fermentation product, such as ethanol. The generated carbohydrate may be converted directly or indirectly to the desired fermentation product, preferably ethanol. According to the invention a mixture of carbohydrate-source generating enzymes may be used. Blends include mixtures comprising at least a glucoamylase and an alpha-amylase, especially an acid amylase, even more preferred an acid fungal alpha-amylase.

In an embodiment, the ratio between glucoamylase activity (AGU) and acid fungal alpha-amylase activity (FAU-F) (i.e., AGU per FAU-F) may be between 0.1 and 100 AGU/FAU-F, in particular between 2 and 50 AGU/FAU-F, such as in the range from 10-40 AGU/FAU-F.

Glucoamylases

A glucoamylase may be derived from any suitable source, e.g., derived from a microorganism or a plant. Preferred glucoamylases are of fungal or bacterial origin, selected from the group consisting of Aspergillus glucoamylases, in particular Aspergillus niger G1 or G2 glucoamylase (Boel et al., 1984, EMBO J. 3(5): 1097-1102), or variants thereof, such as those disclosed in WO 92/00381, WO 00/04136 and WO 01/04273 (from Novozymes, Denmark); the A. awamori glucoamylase disclosed in WO 84/02921, Aspergillus oryzae glucoamylase (Hata et al., 1991, Agric. Biol. Chem. 55(4): 941-949), or variants or fragments thereof. Other Aspergillus glucoamylase variants include variants with enhanced thermal stability: G137A and G139A (Chen et al., 1996, Prot. Eng. 9: 499-505); D257E and D293E/Q (Chen et al., 1995, Prot. Eng. 8: 575-582); N182 (Chen et al., 1994, Biochem. J. 301: 275-281); disulphide bonds, A246C (Fierobe et al., 1996, Biochemistry 35: 8698-8704; and introduction of Pro residues in positions A435 and S436 (Li et al., 1997, Protein Eng. 10: 1199-1204.

Other glucoamylases include Athelia rolfsii (previously denoted Corticium rolfsii) glucoamylase (see U.S. Pat. No. 4,727,026 and Nagasaka et al., 1998, Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 50: 323-330), Talaromyces glucoamylases, in particular derived from Talaromyces duponti, Talaromyces emersonii (WO 99/28448), Talaromyces leycettanus (U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,153), and Talaromyces thermophilus (U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,215).

Bacterial glucoamylases include glucoamylases from Clostridium, in particular C. thermoamylolyticum (EP 135138) and C. thermohydrosulfuricum (WO 86/01831), Trametes cingulata, Pachykytospora papyracea, and Leucopaxillus giganteus, all disclosed in WO 2006/069289; or Peniophora rufomarginata disclosed in PCT/US2007/066618; or a mixture thereof. A hybrid glucoamylase may be used in the present invention. Examples of hybrid glucoamylases are disclosed in WO 2005/045018. Specific examples include the hybrid glucoamylase disclosed in Tables 1 and 4 of Example 1 (which hybrids are hereby incorporated by reference).

The glucoamylase may have a high degree of sequence identity to any of above mentioned glucoamylases, i.e., at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, at least 99% or even 100% identity to the mature enzymes sequences mentioned above.

Commercially available glucoamylase compositions include AMG 200L; AMG 300L; SANT™ SUPER, SANT™ EXTRA L, SPIRIZYME™ PLUS, SPIRIZYME™ FUEL, SPIRIZYME™ B4U, SPIRIZYME ULTRA™ and AMG™ E (from Novozymes A/S, Denmark); OPTIDEX™ 300, GC480™ and GC147™ (from Genencor Int., USA); AMIGASE™ and AMIGASE™ PLUS (from DSM); G-ZYME™ G900, G-ZYME™ and G990 ZR (from Genencor Int.).

Glucoamylases may be added in an amount of 0.02-20 AGU/g DS, preferably 0.1-10 AGU/g DS, especially between 0.1-5 AGU/g DS, such as 0.1-2 AGU/g DS, such as 0.5 AGU/g DS or in an amount of 0.0001-20 AGU/g DS, preferably 0.001-10 AGU/g DS, especially between 0.01-5 AGU/g DS, such as 0.1-2 AGU/g DS.

Beta-Amylases

A beta-amylase (E.C 3.2.1.2) is the name traditionally given to exo-acting maltogenic amylases, which catalyze the hydrolysis of 1,4-alpha-glucosidic linkages in amylose, amylopectin and related glucose polymers. Maltose units are successively removed from the non-reducing chain ends in a step-wise manner until the molecule is degraded or, in the case of amylopectin, until a branch point is reached. The maltose released has the beta anomeric configuration, hence the name beta-amylase.

Beta-amylases have been isolated from various plants and microorganisms (Fogarty and Kelly, 1979, Progress in Industrial Microbiology 15: 112-115). These beta-amylases are characterized by having a temperature optimum in the range from 40° C. to 65° C. and a pH optimum in the range from 4.5 to 7. A commercially available beta-amylase from barley is NOVOZYM™ WBA from Novozymes A/S, Denmark and SPEZYME™ BBA 1500 from Genencor Int., USA.

Maltogenic Amylases

The amylase may also be a maltogenic alpha-amylase (glucan 1,4-alpha-maltohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.133), which catalyzes the hydrolysis of amylose and amylopectin to maltose in the alpha-configuration. A maltogenic amylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus strain NCIB 11837 is commercially available from Novozymes A/S. Maltogenic alpha-amylases are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,598,048, 4,604,355 and 6,162,628, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The maltogenic amylase may be added in an amount of 0.05-5 mg total protein/gram DS or 0.05-5 MANU/g DS.

Phytases

Any phytase may be used in a process of the present invention. Phytases are enzymes that degrade phytates and/or phytic acid by specifically hydrolyzing the ester link between inositol and phosphorus. Phytase activity is credited with phosphorus and ion availability in many ingredients. In some embodiments, the phytase is capable of liberating at least one inorganic phosphate from an inositol hexaphosphate (e.g., phytic acid). Phytases can be grouped according to their preference for a specific position of the phosphate ester group on the phytate molecule at which hydrolysis is initiated (e.g., 3-phytase (EC 3.1.3.8) or 6-phytase (EC 3.1.3.26)). An example of phytase is myo-inositol-hexakiphosphate-3-phosphohydrolase.

Phytases can be obtained from microorganisms such as fungal and bacterial organisms. For example, the phytase may be obtained from filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus (e.g., A. ficuum, A. fumigatus, A. niger, and A. terreus), Cladospirum, Mucor (e.g., Mucor piriformis), Myceliophthora (e.g., M. thermophila), Penicillium (e.g., P. hordei (ATCC No. 22053)), P. piceum (ATCC No. 10519), or P. brevi-compactum (ATCC No. 48944), Talaromyces (e.g., T. thermophilus), Thermomyces (WO 99/49740), and Trichoderma spp. (e.g., T. reesei).

In an embodiment, the phytate-degrading enzyme is obtained from yeast (e.g., Arxula adeninivorans, Pichia anomala, Schwanniomyces occidentalis), gram-negative bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp.), and gram-positive bacteria (e.g., Bacillus spp. such as Bacillus subtilis).

The phytase also may be obtained from Citrobacter, Enterbacter, or Peniophora.

In an embodiment, the phytase is derived from Buttiauxiella spp. such as B. agrestis, B. brennerae, B. ferragutiase, B. gaviniae, B. izardii, B. noackiae, and B. warmboldiae. In some embodiments, the phytase is a phytase disclosed in WO 2006/043178 or U.S. application Ser. No. 11/714,487.

In one preferred embodiment, the phytase has at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 88%, at least 90%, at least 93%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98% and at least 99% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 31 of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/263,886.

Commercially-available phytases are NATUPHOS (BASF), RONOZYME P (Novozymes A/S), PHZYME (Danisco A/S, Diversa) and FINASE (AB Enzymes). The method for determining microbial phytase activity and the definition of a phytase unit is disclosed in Engelen et al., 1994, Journal of AOAC International 77: 760-764. The phytase may be a wild-type phytase, an active variant or active fragment thereof.

Pullulanases

Any pullulanase may be used in a process of the present invention. In an embodiment, the pullulanase is a GH57 pullulanase, e.g., a pullulanase obtained from a strain of Thermococcus, including Thermococcus sp. AM4, Thermococcus sp. HJ21, Thermococcus barophilus, Thermococcus gammatolerans, Thermococcus hydrothermalis; Thermococcus kodakarensis, Thermococcus litoralis, and Thermococcus onnurineus; or from a strain of Pyrococcus, such as Pyrococcus abyssi and Pyrococcus furiosus.

Proteases

A protease may be added during saccharification, fermentation, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. The protease may be any protease. In a preferred embodiment the protease is an acid protease of microbial origin, preferably of fungal or bacterial origin. An acid fungal protease is preferred, but also other proteases can be used.

Suitable proteases include microbial proteases, such as fungal and bacterial proteases. Preferred proteases are acidic proteases, i.e., proteases characterized by the ability to hydrolyze proteins under acidic conditions below pH 7.

The acid fungal protease may be derived from Aspergillus, Candida, Coriolus, Endothia, Enthomophtra, Irpex, Mucor, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Sclerotium, and Torulopsis. In particular, the protease may be derived from Aspergillus aculeatus (WO 95/02044), Aspergillus awamori (Hayashida et al., 1977, Agric. Biol. Chem. 42(5), 927-933), Aspergillus niger (see, e.g., Koaze et al., 1964, Agr. Biol. Chem. Japan 28: 216), Aspergillus saitoi (see, e.g., Yoshida, 1954, J. Agr. Chem. Soc. Japan 28: 66), or Aspergillus oryzae, such as the pepA protease; and acidic proteases from Mucor miehei or Mucor pusillus.

The protease may be a neutral or alkaline protease, such as a protease derived from a strain of Bacillus. A particular protease is derived from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and has the sequence obtainable at Swissprot as Accession No. P06832. The proteases may have at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence disclosed in the Swissprot Database, Accession No. P06832 such as at least 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or particularly at least 99% identity.

The protease may have at least 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence disclosed as SEQ ID NO: 1 in WO 2003/048353 such as at 92%, at least 95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or particularly at least 99% identity.

The protease may be a papain-like protease selected from the group consisting of proteases within EC 3.4.22.* (cysteine protease), such as EC 3.4.22.2 (papain), EC 3.4.22.6 (chymopapain), EC 3.4.22.7 (asclepain), EC 3.4.22.14 (actinidain), EC 3.4.22.15 (cathepsin L), EC 3.4.22.25 (glycyl endopeptidase) and EC 3.4.22.30 (caricain).

In an embodiment, the protease is a protease preparation derived from a strain of Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus oryzae. In another embodiment the protease is derived from a strain of Rhizomucor, preferably Rhizomucor miehei. In another embodiment the protease is a protease preparation, preferably a mixture of a proteolytic preparation derived from a strain of Aspergillus, such as Aspergillus oryzae, and a protease derived from a strain of Rhizomucor, preferably Rhizomucor miehei.

Aspartic acid proteases are described in, for example, Handbook of Proteolytic Enzymes, Edited by A. J. Barrett, N. D. Rawlings and J. F. Woessner, Academic Press, San Diego, 1998, Chapter 270. Examples of aspartic acid proteases include, e.g., those disclosed in Berka et al., 1990, Gene 96: 313; Berka et al., 1993, Gene 125: 195-198; and Gomi et al., 1993, Biosci. Biotech. Biochem. 57: 1095-1100, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The protease also may be a metalloprotease, which is defined as a protease selected from the group consisting of:

-   -   (a) proteases belonging to EC 3.4.24 (metalloendopeptidases);         preferably EC 3.4.24.39 (acid metallo proteinases);     -   (b) metalloproteases belonging to the M group of the above         Handbook;     -   (c) metalloproteases not yet assigned to clans (designation:         Clan MX), or belonging to either one of clans MA, MB, MC, MD,         ME, MF, MG, MH (as defined at pp. 989-991 of the above         Handbook);     -   (d) other families of metalloproteases (as defined at pp.         1448-1452 of the above Handbook);     -   (e) metalloproteases with a HEXXH motif;     -   (f) metalloproteases with an HEFTH motif;     -   (g) metalloproteases belonging to either one of families M3,         M26, M27, M32, M34, M35, M36, M41, M43, or M47 (as defined at         pp. 1448-1452 of the above Handbook);     -   (h) metalloproteases belonging to the M28E family; and     -   (i) metalloproteases belonging to family M35 (as defined at pp.         1492-1495 of the above Handbook).

In other particular embodiments, metalloproteases are hydrolases in which the nucleophilic attack on a peptide bond is mediated by a water molecule, which is activated by a divalent metal cation. Examples of divalent cations are zinc, cobalt or manganese. The metal ion may be held in place by amino acid ligands. The number of ligands may be five, four, three, two, one or zero. In a particular embodiment the number is two or three, preferably three.

There are no limitations on the origin of the metalloprotease used in a process of the invention. In an embodiment the metalloprotease is classified as EC 3.4.24, preferably EC 3.4.24.39. In one embodiment, the metalloprotease is an acid-stable metalloprotease, e.g., a fungal acid-stable metalloprotease, such as a metalloprotease derived from a strain of the genus Thermoascus, preferably a strain of Thermoascus aurantiacus, especially Thermoascus aurantiacus CGMCC No. 0670 (classified as EC 3.4.24.39). In another embodiment, the metalloprotease is derived from a strain of the genus Aspergillus, preferably a strain of Aspergillus oryzae.

In one embodiment the metalloprotease has a degree of sequence identity to amino acids −178 to 177, −159 to 177, or preferably amino acids 1 to 177 (the mature polypeptide) of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2010/008841 (a Thermoascus aurantiacus metalloprotease) of at least 80%, at least 82%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 97%; and which have metalloprotease activity. In particular embodiments, the metalloprotease consists of an amino acid sequence with a degree of identity to SEQ ID NO: 1 as mentioned above.

The Thermoascus aurantiacus metalloprotease is a preferred example of a metalloprotease suitable for use in a process of the invention. Another metalloprotease is derived from Aspergillus oryzae and comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11 disclosed in WO 2003/048353, or amino acids −23-353; −23-374; −23-397; 1-353; 1-374; 1-397; 177-353; 177-374; or 177-397 thereof, and SEQ ID NO: 10 disclosed in WO 2003/048353.

Another metalloprotease suitable for use in a process of the invention is the Aspergillus oryzae metalloprotease comprising SEQ ID NO: 5 of WO 2010/008841, or a metalloprotease is an isolated polypeptide which has a degree of identity to SEQ ID NO: 5 of at least 80%, at least 82%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, or at least 97%; and which have metalloprotease activity. In particular embodiments, the metalloprotease consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5.

In a particular embodiment, a metalloprotease has an amino acid sequence that differs by forty, thirty-five, thirty, twenty-five, twenty, or by fifteen amino acids from amino acids −178 to 177, −159 to 177, or +1 to 177 of the amino acid sequences of the Thermoascus aurantiacus or Aspergillus oryzae metalloprotease.

In another embodiment, a metalloprotease has an amino acid sequence that differs by ten, or by nine, or by eight, or by seven, or by six, or by five amino acids from amino acids −178 to 177, −159 to 177, or +1 to 177 of the amino acid sequences of these metalloproteases, e.g., by four, by three, by two, or by one amino acid.

In particular embodiments, the metalloprotease a) comprises or b) consists of

-   -   i) the amino acid sequence of amino acids −178 to 177, −159 to         177, or +1 to 177 of SEQ ID NO:1 of WO 2010/008841;     -   ii) the amino acid sequence of amino acids −23-353, −23-374,         −23-397, 1-353, 1-374, 1-397, 177-353, 177-374, or 177-397 of         SEQ ID NO: 3 of WO 2010/008841;     -   iii) the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 5 of WO 2010/008841;         or allelic variants, or fragments, of the sequences of i), ii),         and iii) that have protease activity.

A fragment of amino acids −178 to 177, −159 to 177, or +1 to 177 of SEQ ID NO: 1 of WO 2010/008841 or of amino acids −23-353, −23-374, −23-397, 1-353, 1-374, 1-397, 177-353, 177-374, or 177-397 of SEQ ID NO: 3 of WO 2010/008841; is a polypeptide having one or more amino acids deleted from the amino and/or carboxyl terminus of these amino acid sequences. In one embodiment a fragment contains at least 75 amino acid residues, or at least 100 amino acid residues, or at least 125 amino acid residues, or at least 150 amino acid residues, or at least 160 amino acid residues, or at least 165 amino acid residues, or at least 170 amino acid residues, or at least 175 amino acid residues.

In another embodiment, the metalloprotease is combined with another protease, such as a fungal protease, preferably an acid fungal protease.

Commercially available products include ALCALASE®, ESPERASE™, FLAVOURZYME™, NEUTRASE®, RENNILASE®, NOVOZYM™ FM 2.0L, and iZyme BA (available from Novozymes A/S, Denmark) and GC106™ and SPEZYME™ FAN from Genencor International, Inc., USA.

The protease may be present in an amount of 0.0001-1 mg enzyme protein per g DS, preferably 0.001 to 0.1 mg enzyme protein per g DS. Alternatively, the protease may be present in an amount of 0.0001 to 1 LAPU/g DS, preferably 0.001 to 0.1 LAPU/g DS and/or 0.0001 to 1 mAU-RH/g DS, preferably 0.001 to 0.1 mAU-RH/g DS.

Compositions

In this aspect the invention relates to a composition comprising (a) a GH61 polypeptide, (b) a glucoamylase and (c) an alpha-amylase.

In an embodiment the composition further comprises one or more other carbohydrases, such as alpha-amylases. In a preferred embodiment the alpha-amylase is an acid alpha-amylase or a fungal alpha-amylase, preferably an acid fungal alpha-amylase.

The composition may comprise one or more carbohydrate-source generating enzymes, such as especially glucoamylases, beta-amylases, maltogenic amylases, pullulanases, alpha-glucosidases, or a mixture thereof.

In another preferred embodiment the composition comprises one or more GH61 polypeptides and one or more fermenting organisms, such as yeast and/or bacteria. Examples of fermenting organisms can be found in the “Fermenting Organism” section above.

Uses

The invention also relates to the use of GH61 polypeptide in a fermentation process. In an embodiment a GH61 polypeptide is used for improving the fermentation product yield.

Modified Fermenting Organisms

The invention also relates to a modified fermenting organism transformed with a polynucleotide encoding a GH61 polypeptide, wherein the fermenting organism is capable of expressing the GH61 polypeptide at fermentation conditions.

In a preferred embodiment the fermenting organism is a microbial organism, such as yeast or filamentous fungus, or a bacterium. Examples of other fermenting organisms can be found in the “Fermenting Organisms” section.

A fermenting organism may be transformed with a gene encoding a GH61 polypeptide using techniques well known in the art.

The invention described and claimed herein is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments herein disclosed, since these embodiments are intended as illustrations of several aspects of the invention. Any equivalent embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Such modifications are also intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. In the case of conflict, the present disclosure, including definitions will be controlling.

Various references are cited herein, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

MATERIALS & METHODS Glucoamylase Aactivity (AGU)

Glucoamylase activity may be measured in Glucoamylase Units (AGU). The Novo Glucoamylase Unit (AGU) is defined as the amount of enzyme, which hydrolyzes 1 micromole maltose per minute under the standard conditions 37° C., pH 4.3, substrate: maltose 23.2 mM, buffer: acetate 0.1 M, reaction time 5 minutes.

An autoanalyzer system may be used. Mutarotase is added to the glucose dehydrogenase reagent so that any alpha-D-glucose present is turned into beta-D-glucose. Glucose dehydrogenase reacts specifically with beta-D-glucose in the reaction mentioned above, forming NADH which is determined using a photometer at 340 nm as a measure of the original glucose concentration.

AMG incubation: Substrate: maltose 23.2 mM Buffer: acetate 0.1M pH: 4.30 ± 0.05 Incubation temperature: 37° C. ± 1   Reaction time: 5 minutes Enzyme working range: 0.5-4.0 AGU/mL

Color reaction: GlucDH: 430 U/L Mutarotase: 9 U/L NAD: 0.21 mM Buffer: phosphate 0.12M; 0.15M NaCl pH: 7.60 ± 0.05 Incubation temperature: 37° C. ± 1   Reaction time: 5 minutes Wavelength: 340 nm

Alpha-Amylase Activity (KNU)

Alpha-amylase activity may be determined using potato starch as substrate. This method is based on the break-down of modified potato starch by the enzyme, and the reaction is followed by mixing samples of the starch/enzyme solution with an iodine solution. Initially, a blackish-blue color is formed, but during the break-down of the starch the blue color gets weaker and gradually turns into a reddish-brown, which is compared to a colored glass standard.

One Kilo Novo alpha-amylase Unit (KNU) is defined as the amount of enzyme which, under standard conditions (i.e., at 37° C. +/−0.05; 0.0003 M Ca²⁺; and pH 5.6) dextrinizes 5260 mg starch dry substance Merck Amylum solubile.

Acid Alpha-Amylase Activity (AFAU)

The activity of an acid alpha-amylase may be measured in AFAU (Acid Fungal Alpha-amylase Units) or FAU-F. Acid alpha-amylase activity may be measured in AFAU (Acid Fungal Alpha-amylase Units), which are determined relative to an enzyme standard. 1 AFAU is defined as the amount of enzyme which degrades 5.260 mg starch dry matter per hour under the below mentioned standard conditions.

Acid alpha-amylase, an endo-alpha-amylase (1,4-alpha-D-glucan-glucanohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.1) hydrolyzes alpha-1,4-glucosidic bonds in the inner regions of the starch molecule to form dextrins and oligosaccharides with different chain lengths. The intensity of color formed with iodine is directly proportional to the concentration of starch. Amylase activity is determined using reverse colorimetry as a reduction in the concentration of starch under the specified analytical conditions.

Standard conditions/reaction conditions: Substrate: Soluble starch, approx. 0.17 g/L Buffer: Citrate, approx. 0.03M Iodine (I₂): 0.03 g/L CaCl₂: 1.85 mM pH: 2.50 ± 0.05 Incubation temperature: 40° C. Reaction time: 23 seconds Wavelength: 590 nm Enzyme concentration: 0.025 AFAU/mL Enzyme working range: 0.01-0.04 AFAU/mL

Determination of FAU-F

FAU-F Fungal Alpha-Amylase Units (Fungamyl) is measured relative to an enzyme standard of a declared strength.

Reaction conditions Temperature 37° C. pH 7.15 Wavelength 405 nm Reaction time 5 min Measuring time 2 min

Protease Assay Method—AU(RH)

Proteolytic activity may be determined with denatured hemoglobin as substrate. In the Anson-Hemoglobin method for the determination of proteolytic activity denatured hemoglobin is digested, and the undigested hemoglobin is precipitated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The amount of TCA soluble product is determined with phenol reagent, which gives a blue color with tyrosine and tryptophan.

One Anson Unit (AU-RH) is defined as the amount of enzyme which under standard conditions (i.e., 25° C., pH 5.5 and 10 minutes reaction time) digests hemoglobin at an initial rate such that there is liberated per minute an amount of TCA soluble product which gives the same color with phenol reagent as one milliequivalent of tyrosine.

The AU(RH) method is described in EAL-SM-0350 and is available from Novozymes A/S Denmark on request.

Protease Assay Method (LAPU)

One Leucine Amino Peptidase Unit (LAPU) is the amount of enzyme which decomposes 1 microM substrate per minute at the following conditions: 26 mM of L-leucine-p-nitroanilide as substrate, 0.1 M Tris buffer (pH 8.0), 37° C., 10 minutes reaction time.

LAPU is described in EB-SM-0298.02/01 available from Novozymes A/S Denmark on request.

Maltogenic Amylase Activity (MANU)

One MANU (Maltogenic Amylase Novo Unit) is the amount of enzyme required to release one micromole of maltose per minute at a concentration of 10 mg of maltotriose (Sigma M 8378) substrate per ml of 0.1 M citrate buffer, pH 5.0 at 37° C. for 30 minutes.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Effect of Various GH61 Polypetides in a Raw Starch Hydrolysis Process

All treatments were evaluated via mini-scale fermentations. A total of 410 g of ground yellow dent corn (with an average particle size around 0.5 mm) was added to 590 g of tap water. This mixture was supplemented with 3.0 ml of 1 g/l penicillin and 1 g of urea. The pH of this slurry was adjusted to 4.5 with 40% H₂SO₄. Dry solid (DS) level was determined to be 35 wt. %. Approximately 5 g of this slurry was added to 20 ml vials. Each vial was dosed with the the amounts of alpha-amylase (a hybrid of the Rhizomucor pusillus alpha-amylase and Aspergillus niger glucoamylase linker and starch binding domain, which is disclosed in WO 2006/069290), glucoamylase (Trametes cingulata glucoamylase disclosed in WO 2006/069289), and GH61 polypeptide shown in the table below followed by addition of 200 microliters of yeast propagate per 5 g slurry. Actual dosages were based on the exact weight of corn slurry in each vial.

Alpha-Amylase Glucoamylase GH61 dose (AA) dose (AMG) dose (micro- Treatments (FAU-F/g DS) (AGU/g DS) grams/g DS AA + AMG 0.0475 0.5 0 AA + AMG + 0.0475 0.5 10 GH61 (a first Aurantiporus alborubescens GH61 polypeptide) AA + AMG + 0.0475 0.5 10 GH61 (a second Aurantiporus alborubescens GH61 polypeptide) AA + AMG + 0.0475 0.5 10 GH61 (SEQ ID NO: 25)

Vials were incubated at 32° C. Nine replicate fermentations of each treatment were run. Three replicates were selected for 24 hours, 48 hours and 70 hours time point analysis. Vials were vortexed at 24, 48 and 70 hours and analyzed by HPLC. The HPLC preparation consisted of stopping the reaction by addition of 50 microliters of 40% H₂SO₄, centrifuging, and filtering through a 0.45 micrometer filter. Samples were stored at 4° C. until analysis. An Agilent™ 1100 HPLC system coupled with a refractive index (RI) detector was used to determine ethanol and disaccharide concentrations. The separation column was an Aminex™ HPX-87H ion exclusion column (300 mm×7.8 mm) from Bio-Rad®.

The ethanol yields after 70 hours are provided in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Ethanol Yields Relative To Control Dose (micrograms/g DS) GH61 10 20 40 First Aurantiporus 100.41% 100.32% 100.45% alborubescens GH61 polypeptide Second Aurantiporus 100.69% 100.86% 98.50% alborubescens GH61 polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 25 100.94% 98.68% 100.38%

The results (in bold) show that the addition of GH61 polypeptide results in a statistically significant increase in the final ethanol yield as compared to the control.

The disaccharide concentrations obtained are provided in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Disaccharide Yields Relative to Control Dose (micrograms/g DS) GH61 10 20 40 First Aurantiporus 82.88% 77.84% 77.26% alborubescens GH61 polypeptide Second Aurantiporus 77.68% 79.22% 71.30% alborubescens GH61 polypeptide SEQ ID NO: 25 76.69% 72.56% 71.99%

The results show that the addition of GH61 polypeptide reduced the final concentration of disaccharide.

The invention is defined by the following paragraphs:

-   1. A process of producing a fermentation product, comprising     converting a starch-containing material to a dextrin with an     alpha-amylase; saccharifying the dextrin to a sugar with a     saccharifying enzyme; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting     organism in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide in a single step at a     temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the     starch-containing material, wherein the GH61 polypeptide is present     in an amount which results in a greater amount of the fermentation     product than the amount of the fermentation produced by the same     process without the GH61 polypeptide. -   2. A process of producing a fermentation product, comprising     converting a starch-containing material to a dextrin with an     alpha-amylase; saccharifying the dextrin to a sugar with a     saccharifying enzyme; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting     organism in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide in a single step at a     temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the     starch-containing material, wherein the GH61 polypeptide is present     in an amount which results in a smaller amount of disaccharide than     the amount of disaccharide produced by the same process without the     GH61 polypeptide. -   3. The process of paragraph 1 or 2, wherein the saccharifying enzyme     is a beta-amylase, glucoamylase, or maltogenic alpha-amylase. -   4. The process of any of paragraphs 1-3, which is carried out in the     presence of a pullulanase and/or an isoamylase. -   5. The process of any of paragraphs 1-4, which is carried out in the     presence of a protease. -   6. The process of any of paragraphs 1-5, which is carried out at a     temperature of 20-40° C. -   7. The process of any of paragraphs 1-6, wherein the     starch-containing material is selected from the group consisting of     barley, beans, cassava, cereals, corn, milo, peas, potatoes, rice,     rye, sago, sorghum, sweet potatoes, tapioca, wheat, and whole     grains, or any mixture thereof. -   8. The process of any of paragraphs 1-7, wherein the fermenting     organism is a yeast. -   9. The process of any of paragraphs 1-8, wherein the fermentation     product is selected from the group consisting of alcohols (e.g.,     butanol, ethanol, methanol, 1,3-propanediol); organic acids (e.g.,     acetic acid, citric acid, itaconic acid, gluconic acid, gluconate,     lactic acid, succinic acid, 2,5-diketo-D-gluconic acid); ketones     (e.g., acetone); amino acids (e.g., glutamic acid); gases (e.g., H₂     and CO₂), and more complex compounds, including, for example,     antibiotics (e.g., penicillin and tetracycline); enzymes; vitamins     (e.g., riboflavin, B₁₂, beta-carotene); and hormones. -   10. The process of paragraph claim 9, wherein the fermentation     product is ethanol. -   11. The process of any of paragraphs 1-10, further comprising     recovering the fermentation product. -   12. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 1, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 1 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   13. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 2, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 2 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   14. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 3, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 3 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   15. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 4, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 4 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   16. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 5, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 5 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   17. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 6, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 6 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   18. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 7, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 7 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   19. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 8, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 8 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   20. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 9, e.g., at         least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 9 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   21. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 10, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 10 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   22. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 11, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 11 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   23. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 12, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 12 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   24. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 13, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 13 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   25. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 14, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 14 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   26. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 15, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 15 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   27. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 16, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 16 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   28. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 17, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 17 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   29. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 18, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 18 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   30. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 19, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 19 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   31. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 20, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 20 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   32. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 21, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 21 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   33. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 22, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 22 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   34. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 23, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 23 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   35. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 24, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 24 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   36. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 25, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 25 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   37. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 26, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 26 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   38. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 27, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 27 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   39. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 28, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 28 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   40. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 29, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 29 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   41. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 30, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 30 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   42. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 31, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 31 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   43. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptide     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to SEQ ID NO: 32, e.g.,         at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least         91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least 95%, at         least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99% sequence         identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of SEQ ID NO: 32 that has GH61 polypeptide         activity. -   44. The process of any of paragraphs 1-11, wherein the GH61     polypeptdide is an Aurantiporus alborubescens. -   45. A composition comprising (a) a GH61 polypeptide, (b) a     glucoamylase and (c) an alpha-amylase. -   46. The composition of paragraph 45, further comprising a     pullulanase. -   47. The composition of paragraph 45 or 46, wherein the GH61     polypeptdide:     -   (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to any SEQ ID NOS: 1-32,         e.g., at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at         least 91%, at least 92%, at least 93%, at least 94%, at least         95%, at least 96%, at least 97%, at least 98%, or at least 99%         sequence identity; or     -   (b) is a fragment of any of SEQ ID NOS: 1-32 that has GH61         polypeptide activity. -   48. The composition of paragraph 45 or 46, wherein the GH61     polypeptdide is an Aurantiporus alborubescens. 

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A process of producing a fermentation product, comprising converting a starch-containing material to a dextrin with an alpha-amylase; saccharifying the dextrin to a sugar with a saccharifying enzyme; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting organism in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide in a single step at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material, wherein the GH61 polypeptide is present in an amount which results in a greater amount of the fermentation product than the amount of the fermentation produced by the same process without the GH61 polypeptide.
 19. A process of producing a fermentation product, comprising converting a starch-containing material to a dextrin with an alpha-amylase; saccharifying the dextrin to a sugar with a saccharifying enzyme; and fermenting the sugar using a fermenting organism in the presence of a GH61 polypeptide in a single step at a temperature below the initial gelatinization temperature of the starch-containing material, wherein the GH61 polypeptide is present in an amount which results in a smaller amount of disaccharide than the amount of disaccharide produced by the same process without the GH61 polypeptide.
 20. The process of claim 18, wherein the saccharifying enzyme is a beta-amylase, glucoamylase, or maltogenic alpha-amylase.
 21. The process of claim 18, which is carried out in the presence of a pullulanase and/or an isoamylase.
 22. The process of claim 18, which is carried out in the presence of a protease.
 23. The process of claim 18, which is carried out at a temperature of 20-40° C.
 24. The process of claim 18, wherein the starch-containing material is selected from the group consisting of barley, beans, cassava, cereals, corn, milo, peas, potatoes, rice, rye, sago, sorghum, sweet potatoes, tapioca, wheat, and whole grains, or any mixture thereof.
 25. The process of claim 18, wherein the fermenting organism is a yeast.
 26. The process of claim 18, wherein the fermentation product is selected from the group consisting of alcohols; organic acids; ketones; amino acids; gases; antibiotics; enzymes; vitamins; and hormones.
 27. The process of claim 26, wherein the fermentation product is ethanol.
 28. The process of claim 18, further comprising recovering the fermentation product.
 29. The process of claim 18, wherein the GH61 polypeptide: (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to any SEQ ID NOS: 1-32; or1 (b) is a fragment of any of SEQ ID NOS: 1-32 that has GH61 polypeptide activity.
 30. The process of claim 18, wherein the GH61 polypeptdide is an Aurantiporus alborubescens.
 31. A composition comprising (a) a GH61 polypeptide, (b) a glucoamylase and (c) an alpha-amylase.
 32. The composition of claim 31, further comprising a pullulanase.
 33. The composition of claim 31, wherein the GH61 polypeptdide: (a) has at least 70% sequence identity to any SEQ ID NOS: 1-32; or (b) is a fragment of any of SEQ ID NOS: 1-32 that has GH61 polypeptide activity.
 34. The composition of claim 31, wherein the GH61 polypeptdide is an Aurantiporus alborubescens. 